By: Rhonda Gutierrez

My daughter and I were having a discussion regarding beauty and ugliness the other day and it really made me think.  I remember telling her, “I really don’t know any ugly people.”

Everyone has something beautiful about them. Ugliness to me is not a blemished complexion or a disproportionate body.  Ugliness to me is evil.  Ugliness is rude, mean and hateful.  As we stroll through the produce department searching for the perfect tomato, we often fail.  I think to myself, “What’s the importance of a perfect tomato? An oddly shaped tomato can be just as delicious.”  I made it a point to buy the most imperfect tomato I could find.  After all, why does everything have to be perfect?

If we all put effort into living beautiful instead of looking beautiful, we would have much happier lives.  Imagine waiting in line, at the dreaded Secretary of State office to renew your license.  Wouldn’t it be nice to wait with a bunch of happy and kind people? Instead of spending thousands on plastic surgery and make-up, why not spend time and money volunteering in homeless shelters and schools?

It makes me sad that it has taken me almost forty years to find comfort in my own skin.  I was always trying to change my hair, my weight, my make-up and my clothes.  I have, finally, learned to change the way I see myself.  I am comfortable being me.  I wouldn’t change anything physically about myself because then I wouldn’t be Rhonda Gutierrez.  However, I will continue working on being the best person I can possibly be on the inside.  Pretty is as pretty does.  Smiles are beautiful, imperfect teeth and all.  Wrinkles are attractive, when they are products of many years of smiles.  Frown lines…not so much.

There is no perfect person and there are no perfect lives. We are all here together, in this big beautiful world.  Let’s make it shine with smiles and happiness.  Be the most attractive, magnetic person you can be—just by being nice.

“That which is striking and beautiful is not always good, but that which is good is always beautiful.” Ninon de L’Enclo

Image: David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net